Library Services Directory
M to R
The following alphabetical letters are
quick links for more information about the Library Service and what
it offers.
A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z
Meeting Rooms
Alsager,
Congleton, Crewe, Handforth,
Holmes Chapel, Macclesfield, Nantwich, Sandbach
and Wilmslow libraries have meeting
rooms and tea and coffee making facilities for community groups and
businesses. If you wish to use these facilities, please ask a
member of staff for details. Macclesfield Library also has an
IT suite available for hire.
There is a charge
for this service.
Mobile libraries
We have mobile
libraries which take books for all ages into the rural
areas of Cheshire East. They provide a fortnightly service.
Multicultural Services
Books and tapes/CDs on learning
English as an Additional Language (EAL) can be borrowed or reserved
at any library. Libraries can also offer information on local
courses. Visit our multicultural
services web page for further information.
Multimedia
Most libraries have Multimedia
sections, where you will find the latest CDs, DVDs and console
games. There is a charge for the loan of these items. The current
charges are listed in the Library Charges
leaflet, on display in all libraries.
Music
Libraries hold a wide range of CDs
that can be borrowed. If you cannot find the title you wish to
borrow at your local library, you can reserve it if it is in stock
at another library. There is a charge for
the loan of these items.
Music Scores
Multiple copies of
music scores for Cheshire choirs can be ordered online or by
telephone on 01244 976048 and are collected from a Cheshire
library of your choice.
There is a fee for borrowing multiple sets; please ask for details.
See also sheet music.
Nearest Library
You can find out where your nearest Cheshire East library is and
details of Mobile Library
routes online.
Notifications
There are several ways that we can
communicate with customers about their loans. You can choose
the most convenient methods for you by logging into
Your Pesonal Details on the library catalogue or
asking at your local library.
We can send you a reminder email three days before your loans are
due for return so that you can renew or return your loans on time
without incurring any fines.
If your loans do become overdue we can let you know either by post,
email or text message.
If you reserve an item we
can let you know when it is ready for collection by post, email or
text message.
Older People
A significant number of older people
may have difficulties with mobility, eyesight or hearing loss and
libraries have a range of services taking these factors into
account.
If you live too far away from your nearest
library, please check the mobile library
routes to see if there is a mobile library which stops near
you.
Every library has large print books
and talking books for people whose eyesight is deteriorating. Large
print books can be reserved free of charge, allowing access to the
whole of the Cheshire’s stock. Catalogues of the talking book stock
are available from your local library.
People who have difficulty reading print or handling books may
borrow and reserve talking books free of charge.
We also hold information on
opportunities and services, such as information on retirement,
education, voluntary work, health, financial management, housing
etc.
There is a home library service,
Books on Wheels, for older and disabled
people living in Cheshire East. Eligibility for this service
depends on the ability of an individual to use branch or mobile
libraries and the availability or otherwise of relatives or friends
who can go to a library for them. Please contact your local library for more information about
the service in your area.
We also offer services to elderly
people's homes and day centres.
Ordering items
You can order or reserve items which
are not currently available at your local library. Simply fill in a
Reservation Form and we will send you a postcard or email to let
you know when the item you have reserved is ready for you to
borrow. Use our suggestion forms for books and multimedia items not
already in stock, we'll do our best to add them to our
collection.
You can reserve items online through our Library Catalogue.
Overdue items
Your loans can be renewed in the library, online or
by telephone to avoid incurring overdue fines. You can also choose
to receive pre-overdue reminders and overdue notifications by
email or overdue notifications by text message to your mobile
phone. If your loans become overdue a daily fines rate applies.
Parish Records
In addition to collections at
Cheshire Archives and Local
Studies, some of our larger libraries hold local collections of
Parish Records. Please contact the individual libraries for details. Macclesfield Library provides a leaflet of Parish Records (PDF,
273KB) detailing records held at the library.
People's Network
All Cheshire East libraries have
People's Network
computers available to use, subject to terms and conditions (PDF,
357KB). These allow you to access the internet, library
catalogue, homework resources, the Virtual
Reference Library, and to use Word and other Office software.
Some libraries have an IT Buddy
available.
Printing and scanning facilities are
available in all Cheshire East libraries. Demand for use can be
high, so booking in advance is advisable. Please contact your local library for details.
Computer use is free for the first
hour of use each day. Remember to bring your library membership
card with you. If you are not a library member just bring along one
form of ID (which must show your address) and join on the day!
Under 16s will need a signed parental consent declaration
form (PDF 357KB) before using the computers. If you are under
16 and need to join the library you will need a parent or carer to
sign your joining form and show one form of identification. They
can either do this in the library or sign your form at home and you
can bring the signed form and the identification with
you.
Photocopiers
All libraries have black and white
coin operated photocopiers for you to use.
Photographs
Larger libraries will have some
photographs relating to their locality. There is also a countywide
collection of photographs, slides, prints and other images at
Cheshire Archives and Local
Studies.
Some of these images are being stored
digitally and made available on CD-ROM in larger libraries. Please
phone 01244 603018 for further details. Digital images created from
original materials held at Cheshire Archives and Local
Studies and in Cheshire East Libraries are available online at
the Cheshire Archives and Local Studies digital image
website.
PIN
is required to access the details of your loans and reservations
and to reserve and renew items on the
Cheshire Libraries Catalogue.
It is also required to use the
Virtual Reference Library. If you do not
know your
PIN
,
contact
your local library or e-mail
librarynotifications@cheshireeast.gov.uk,
quoting your library card number, and confirming your name and
address.
Playgroups and Nurseries
Playgroups, nurseries and
parent/toddler groups can borrow books for use by children in their
care. 'Big books' are also available for loan in some
libraries. Local Authority nursery schools can use the
Education Library Service. For
details of crèches, nurseries, holiday play schemes, childminders,
out of school clubs and parent/toddler groups please contact the
Family Information Service.
Plays
Hoole
Library has a special collection of plays. Single and
multiple copies of plays are available for loan. A list of new
titles is available on request.
One act play collection : colour
coding.
Light green - comedy - mixed cast -
1-6 characters
Dark green - comedy - mixed cast - 7+ characters
Light brown - drama - mixed cast - 1-6 characters
Dark brown - drama - mixed cast - 7+ characters
Light red - comedy - female cast - 1-6 characters
Dark red - comedy - female cast - 7+ characters
Light blue - drama - female cast - 1-6 characters
Dark blue - drama - female cast - 7+ characters
Yellow - all male cast - any cast size
A full list of plays (PDF,
1.8MB) is available. Please contact
Hoole Library for further details 01244 347401.
Prison library
We provide a library service at
HM Prison in Styal.
Radio frequency identifier
(RFID)
Please see Self-service.
Randolph Caldecott Collection
Randolph Caldecott, artist and book
illustrator, was born at 150 Bridge Street, Chester in 1846.
He was educated at King Henry VIII School in Chester. He died in
Florida in 1886, and there is a memorial to him in Chester
Cathedral.
Chester Library has a collection of about 140 volumes by
Caldecott, including his contributions to The Graphic Magazine,
Washington Irving's 'Old Christmas' and 'Bracebridge Hall' and his
series of picture books such as 'The House that Jack Built', 'Babes
in the Wood' and 'Ride a Cock Horse'. Please contact the library in
advance to view the collection, as it is located on closed
access.
Reading Groups
The Reading Group Collection has been
set up to encourage members of reading groups to expand their
reading choices, to try something different, and to discover new
authors and new genres. These titles are available (mostly in sets
of 12) for registered reading groups to borrow, free of charge, for
a 6 week loan period. Books are delivered to your local library for collection. To register
your reading group please phone the Collection Adminstrator on
01244 976021 or pick up a leaflet in your library. Please note that
due to the popularity of this service, your group is likely to be
placed on a waiting list.
If you are interested in joining or setting up a Reading Group,
we can offer information and multiple copies of a range of titles;
ask at your local
library for details or visit our Reading Groups page.
Alderley Edge, Bollington, Congleton, Handforth,
Holmes Chapel, Knutsford and Nantwich libraries host reading groups or book
clubs. Congleton Library also runs book clubs for
children and for teenagers.
Records and Archives
Cheshire Archives and Local
Studies collects and cares for the principal collection of
records and archives for the county of Cheshire, from the 12th
century to the present day. Members of the public can consult these
archives in the search room, free of charge and by appointment.
Reference collections
All Cheshire
East libraries have a collection of reference books for
answering everyday enquiries and checking elusive facts in
almanacs, atlases, dictionaries, directories, encyclopedias and
yearbooks.
The larger libraries have more extensive collections for students
and have trained staff available to handle more complex enquiries.
Study facilities are also available.
The Virtual Reference Library is accessible 24 hours
a day, seven days a week. There are a growing number of excellent
information resources at your fingertips; simply log on and enter
the number on your library card when prompted.
Renewing items
Books should be returned within three
weeks.
If you can't bring your books back by
the return date, in order to avoid paying fines items can be
renewed by phoning your library,
the online catalogue,
fax, post or in person. You can also renew loans on the dedicated
telephone renewals number: 0845 148 0148. This renewal will be for
a further three week period unless the item is requested by another
borrower.
Books can be renewed without coming into the library up to eight
times, and then must be brought into a library for returns or a
further renewal.
Most Cheshire East libraries now use a computerised issuing
system. You will only need the borrower number on your membership
card to enable you to renew items by phone. A PIN is required for online renewals.
Multimedia items such as CDs and DVDs may also be renewed if not
required by other borrowers. Such renewals will incur a further
charge at the rate of the original loan. Multimedia items will be
issued for a further week. After this date a daily fines rate will apply.
Reserving and requesting items
If we don't have the item you want, we can try to borrow it from
another Cheshire East or Cheshire West and Chester library. The
stock of our libraries is listed on our catalogue. If you
have not used this before the staff will be very pleased to help
you. There is a charge for reserving
items. You can now reserve items online at our Library Catalogue pages.
You can choose to have an email or text message sent to you when
your reservation is waiting for collection.
If you would like to reserve an item that is not held by any of our
libraries, our Interlending Unit can provide items from other UK
libraries or even a library outside the UK if necessary. Just go
into a library to place your reservation. Charges apply to these
services, details of which can be found in our Library Charges leaflet.
Romany Collection
Romany was the name used by the Rev. George Bramwell Evens
(1884-1943) in his BBC Children's Hour radio broadcasts Out
with Romany in the 1930s and 40s. His mother was a true
gypsy and the caravan, or vardo, he used for his outings can still
be seen outside Wilmslow Library, along
with the memorial to his dog, Raq.
Wilmslow Library holds a collection of Romany's books and copies
of the Romany magazine, published annually by the Romany Society,
which can be accessed during library opening hours for reference
only.
Rhyme times
Rhyme times for under 5s are offered at various Cheshire East
Libraries. A full list of rhyme times is available. You can
also check the individual library pages
for details.
